Josh Duhamel Trades Hollywood Glitz for a 'Doomsday Cabin' and Real Childhoods

Josh Duhamel has officially swapped the bright lights of Hollywood for the quiet wilds of Minnesota, and honestly, it sounds like his version of paradise is a whole lot more mud and mosquitoes than red carpets and paparazzi.

The "Ransom Canyon" actor, along with his wife Audra Mari and their 1-year-old son Sheperd, lives about 40 minutes away from the nearest sign of civilization in a lakeside cabin tucked deep in northwest Minnesota. Duhamel’s 11-year-old son, Axl, whom he shares with ex-wife Fergie, also gets to experience the unplugged life when he visits.

Duhamel fondly calls his property a "doomsday cabin," hidden up a two-mile dirt road and surrounded by forest. He says arriving there is always a big exhale, and given how Hollywood can suck the soul out of you, who can blame him for wanting a little oxygen?

For Duhamel, the biggest perk is letting his kids actually be kids—catching frogs, collecting sticks, coming home covered in dirt. "They come home and they’re filthy, and I think that’s so good for them," he says. Beats screen time any day, right?

He’s convinced that too much tech and too little nature is fueling the world’s collective crankiness, so he’s built his own antidote: a rustic cabin retreat that took 15 years to shape. The land came in pieces—first a cabin, then a hunting shack, and eventually a house. He describes it as a Terry Redlin painting brought to life, complete with a red cabin and stone chimney right on the water.

It wasn’t always glamorous. For over a decade, Duhamel and his family were basically homesteading—no plumbing, outhouses, and dishwashing in the lake. Now, things are a little more comfortable, but he still loves that rough-around-the-edges feel. "I didn’t just buy the place, I shaped this place," he explains. Improvements aside, there’s always a bit of adventure—like the time he had to remove a goose from his SUV grille on Easter Sunday. Apparently, even the wildlife can’t resist a celebrity sighting.

Duhamel says the remote community looks out for each other, and the nearest store is a solid 40 miles away. "Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other – making memories, spending time with family and friends." His goal is simple: create lasting memories for his kids, far from the digital distractions of the modern world.

His son Axl, when at the cabin, is off the iPad and on the lake, playing soccer on the beach, or just tagging along with Dad. Duhamel dreams of passing down this little slice of off-the-grid heaven to his kids—and eventually, their kids—because, in his words, "It’s about family. It’s about legacy."

He admits that while Hollywood has its perks, he never really felt at home among the red carpets and constant attention. "That whole lifestyle can suck the soul out of you if you're not careful," Duhamel says. For him, it’s all about getting back to basics: food, warmth, fun, and family. And maybe the occasional surprise goose.